ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Conditions are becoming favourable for further advancement of Southwest Monsoon
Scattered to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers very likely to continue over western Himalayan region
Isolated heavy falls also very likely over Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh and South Rajasthan during next 24 hours
Significant Weather Features
Conditions are becoming favourable for further advancement of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Central Arabian Sea, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Southwest & Eastcentral Bay of Bengal; entire Southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of Westcentral Bay of Bengal during next 2 days. 2. Under the influence of the Western Disturbance, scattered to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers very likely to continue over western Himalayan region and scattered rain/thundershowers over plains of northwest India during next 2 days and decrease thereafter. 3. Isolated thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, gusty wind over these regions during next 2 days. Isolated heavy falls also very likely over Uttarakhand, East Uttar Pradesh and South Rajasthan during next 24 hours. 4. Widespread rain/thundershowers along the west coast and Isolated to Scattered rainfall activity over Gujarat State, Interior Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Interior Karnataka and Tamilnadu during nezt 4-5 days. 5. Isolated heavy falls also very likely over Kerala and Konkan & Goa during next 3 days and over Coastal Karnataka during next 24 hours.
Kindly visit www.mausam.imd.gov.in for details.
Ministry of Defence
Japanese Maritime Self Defence Ship Visits Kochi
A missile destroyer, JS Sazanami of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force , commanded by Commander Shoji Ishkawa, is on a two day goodwill visit to Kochi from 13 Aug 19. The Commanding Officer accompanied by Coast Guard Superintendent Koichiro Maeda, Commanding Officer, of the Somalia Dispatch Team of the Japanese Coast Guard, and Capt Taiko Eda, Resident Defense Attaché of Japan at New Delhi called on Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding -in- Chief, Southern Naval Command on 13th August, and interacted over professional subjects of common interests to both navies.
During the stay at Kochi, various activities such as visit of IN personnel onboard JS Sazanami and professional interaction between the two navies were conducted. The visiting crew were also given a conducted tour of the Anti-Submarine Warfare School and the Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sunayna.
JS Sazanami with about 25 officers, 156 sailors and eight Japanese Coast Guard personnel  on board for the current deployment is planned to depart for Bahrain on 14 Aug 19.
DKS/SW/AC
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Ministry of Labour & Employment
Ministry of Labour and Employment to observe Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath on 1st October as part of Swachhata Hi Seva
The Ministry of Labour and Employment joins in the Government of India's call for citizens to engage in "Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta" an initiative to promote community service and cleanliness.
During the on-going Swachhata Hi Seva  campaign, which began on 15th September 2023, the Ministry of Labour and Employment is encouraged by the following achievements:
- A total of 248 SHS activities organized.
- Participation from 5,726 persons.
- A collective contribution of 6,196 man-hours in the Swachhata Hi Seva portal.
The Ministry has proposed to organise "Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta" campaign on 1st October 2023 at 10 AM at more than 442 sites in 156 Districts across nation and citizens are urged to dedicate one hour of voluntary service , to enhance the cleanliness of their neighbourhoods in alignment with the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
“Being sensitive to sound is essential, especially the natural and atmospheric sounds, as they add up to the narrative”: Prof. Madhu Apsara, Associate Professor, FTII
Sounds are crucial for a film to feel realistic for the audience; Sounds and dialogue must perfectly sync with the actions in a cinema
Panaji, 19 January 2021
Sounds are crucial for a film to feel realistic for the audience. Sounds and dialogue must perfectly sync with the actions in a cinema without any lag and must sound the way they look. Suggesting sounds for better quality output is necessary wherever we feel the need, said Prof. Madhu Apsara, Associate Professor, Department of Sound Recording and Design, FTII.
He was delivering a lecture on ‘Sound Design in Cinema’ as part of film appreciation session through OTT platform today, at the 51st edition of International Film Festival of India, being held in Goa.
He opined that “being sensitive to sound is essential, especially the natural and atmospheric sounds, as they add up to the narrative.” He emphasised the need to check the microphone and that not all sounds can be put together. As required, sounds can be amplified as and where necessary.
A sound recordist should pay attention to the recording equipment to yield better sound effects as each sound has an exclusive expression and no sound can be considered not worthy.
Stressing on the need for better sound design in order to achieve desired production effects, Prof. Apsara maintained that it is not a good practice to mix all sounds together while editing. He warned of music which can be conflicting with a situation or an occasion, saying that emotional movement is important and not the geography of the narrative at times. Experiencing the picture without missing the narrative is what matters. Sound adds to the ‘tonality’ or experience of the film as a whole. Prof. Apsara stressed that each sound adds to the image. He said rhythm is important in Foley sound design, which is a unique sound effect technique that involves creating and performing everyday sounds for movies and television shows.
Ministry of Law and Justice
Constitution of Specialised Benches
As per Article 145 of the Constitution read with clause  thereof, the Supreme Court is empowered to make rules to regulate its own procedure for hearing appeals and other matters pertaining to appeals and may fix the minimum number of judges who are to sit for such purposes. The Supreme Court in the past and as per its decisions, has constituted specialised benches to deal with cases engaging different subject matters. As the issue primarily falls within the purview of the court, the Government has no role in constituting specialized benches in the said court.
As per information provided by Supreme Court regarding the constitution of Special Benches by it, since November 2022, six Special Benches have been constituted by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India; the sitting of such Special Benches is on every Wednesday and Thursday which are designated as “Regular Hearing Days” and these Benches deal with:
 Death Reference Cases & Criminal Matters;
 Land Acquisition and Requisition Matters;
 Compensation Matters and Matters relating to Consumer Protection
 Indirect Tax matters and Arbitration matters
 Service Matters and
 Direct Tax Matters.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Law and Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman virtually inaugurates ICES at 2 new Land Customs Station, Nagarakata and Kulkuli in West Bengal
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman virtually inaugurated Indian Customs EDI – Electronic Data Interchange - System  in recently operationalised two Land Customs Stations, Nagarakata in the districts of Jalpaiguri and Kulkuli in the district of Alipurduar in West Bengal.
The delegates of the Royal Govt. of Bhutan, Govt. of Nepal, in presence of Shri Vivek Johri, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Tax and Customs ; Shri Sanjay Agarwal, Member , CBIC; Shri Anil Kumar Gupta, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Kolkata Zone; Shri Ranjan Khanna, Commissioner of Customs , West Bengal, and other dignitaries also participated on the occasion.
In her address, the Union Finance Minister said that the electronic data interchange will facilitate data sharing on real-time basis and therefore encourage more border trade. Smt. Sitharaman underlined the importance of Sashastra Seema Bal in containing the illicit trade. While referring to SAFTA agreement for duty free trade between the neighbouring countries, the Union Finance Minister also stressed on duty free quota free  trade with minimum items in negative list for improving cross – border trade with neighbouring countries.
Smt, Sitharaman also stated that EDI system will help in tracking, monitoring and facilitating the bilateral trade happening between India and its neighbouring countries. “Such systems are being deployed all across the country,” Smt. Sitharaman said. The Finance Minister also said that CBIC should give special attention towards the land-locked counties like Bhutan and Nepal and be a helpful nation to the neighbouring countries.
During her visit to Panitanki, the Finance Minister was appraised on the role of Customs in using advance technology installed to deliver service in cost and time effective manner, thus enhancing trade with our neighbouring nation.
On the occasion, Shri Vivek Johri, Chairman, CBIC, said that there are 75 LCSs for cross-border trade, out of which 60 LCSs are already EDI-enabled and 15 LCSs will be made EDI-enabled soon. Kulkuli and Nagrakata LCSs are not only important for trade but also important to facilitate transit trade with neighbouring countries. Apart from trade, these LCSs are significant for handling of passengers with a view to augment people to people contact and preventing smuggling of gold, narcotics and other items. Digitalisation of work will facilitate electronic filing of documents and he further stated that the idea of common documentation in both the ends, i.e. exporting and importing countries, is a future plan like CIS and African countries.
In the welcoming address, Shri Sanjay Agarwal welcomed the Union Finance Minister and other dignitaries.
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts enters into partnership with GeM and CSC
Strives for outreach, mobilization and capacity-building of last-mile Government buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement
Will enable Government buyers, sellers and service providers to avail the logistics services and facilities over GeM through Post offices located in remotest parts of India
More than 1.3 lakh CSC outlets of DoP would facilitate onboarding of sellers on the GeM
Department of Posts has signed an Memorandum of understanding  with Government e-Marketplace [GeM] and CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. [CSC-SPV] for the advocacy, outreach, mobilization and capacity-building of last-mile Government buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement. The MoU was signed by Shri PK Singh, CEO, GeM, Shri Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, CEO, CSC-SPV and Shri Ajay Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, Parcel Directorate, Department of Posts in New Delhi on 18th May 2022.
The MoU was conceived after the successful integration of GeM and India Post on 05th May 2022. With this integration, it is now possible for all Government buyers, sellers and service-providers to avail the logistics services and facilities over GeM through the India Post offices located in the remotest parts of India. In addition, more than 1.3 lakh CSC outlets of DoP would facilitate onboarding of sellers on the GeM.
This tie-up between Department of Posts and GeM will enable sellers to opt for DoP services of pickup, booking, transmission and delivery from their profile page on GeM portal. Department of Posts has deployed seamless data exchange with all its customers through Application Programme Interface . The partnership between GeM and DoP involves integration of DoP and GeM system for seller registration in DoP system, Pincode validation, tariff calculation, pickup, booking, barcode generation, Label generation, Cancellation of in-transit shipments and Tracking.
DoP will also guide and train 6000+ CSCs with regard to various postal products and services that are offered and packaging of consignments as per Department of Posts Shipment Packaging Policy.
Speaking at the ceremony Shri Alok Sharma, Director General, Postal Services said that “the new partnership with GeM and CSC-SPV will propel India Post as the preferred logistics service provider for sellers on GeM portal thereby ensuring a high-quality of service and faster delivery of e-commerce benefits through last-mile physical connectivity, across 1.5 lakh+ India Post Offices.”
The MoU will spur local value-chains through “Vocal for Local” and “Make in India” initiatives of the Government, thereby furthering the aim of ensuring a self-reliant “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
Prime Minister's Office
Operation Ganga reflects India's indomitable spirit : PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that a new documentary on Operation Ganga to evacuate Indians from Ukraine would be very informative on aspects relating to the Operation.
The Prime Minister tweeted :
"Operation Ganga indicates our firm resolve to stand with our people no matter how daunting the challenge is. It also reflects India's indomitable spirit. This documentary would be very informative on aspects relating to this Operation."
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Availability of Medicines
Medicines for Vector Borne Diseases   under National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme  are available at all levels of interventions including Government Hospitals and Dispensaries. The drugs for treatment of malaria are provided free of cost to States/ Union Territories . The drugs provided are Artemisinin Combination Therapy with SulphadoxinePyremethamine , ACT-SP  packs, ACT-SP  packs, ACT-SP  packs, ACT-SP  packs, Artesunate Injections , Diethylcarbamazine Citrate  Tablets  which are available in sufficient quantity. There is no specific drug for treatment of Dengue, however, kits are provided for diagnosis of dengue.
In respect of seasonal influenza A /Swine flu, Oseltamivir is the drug recommended by the World Health Organisation  for treatment of seasonal Influenza A  in capsule/tablet and suspension form, and is made available free of cost by the State Government in all Government hospitals in Madhya Pradesh. As per data received from State
Surveillance Unit  of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme , details of medicine provided by State for distribution to the patients are as under:
|
|
Year
|
|
Quantity of medicines provided
|
|
2016
|
|
13580
|
|
2017
|
|
25069
|
|
2018
|
|
92424
Under National Leprosy Eradication Programme  with the support of WHO, free of cost Multi Drug Therapy  is being provided to all States/UTs including Madhya Pradesh. The details of MDT provided to Madhya Pradesh during last three years are as under:-
|
|
Year
|
|
Multi Bacillary Adult 
|
|
Multi Bacillary Child

|
|
Pauci Bacillary Adult 
|
|
Pauci
Bacilary
Child 
|
|
Clofazimine 100mg
|
|
Clofazimine
50 mg
|
|
2016-17
|
|
44472
|
|
2016
|
|
13924
|
|
1146
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2017-18
|
|
47898
|
|
1998
|
|
13956
|
|
1296
|
|
24000
|
|
0
|
|
2018-19
|
|
31530
|
|
1728
|
|
8064
|
|
678
|
|
8500
|
|
0MBA, MBC, PBA, PBC all in Blister Clander pack 
.
The Minister of State , ShAshwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet approves financial assistance to sugar mills for clearing cane dues of farmers
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to provide financial assistance @ of Rs. 5.50 per quintal of cane crushed in sugar season 2017-18 to sugar mills to offset the cost of cane, in order to help sugar mills to clear cane dues of farmers.
Details:
- The assistance shall be paid directly to the farmers on behalf of the mills.
- It will be adjusted against the cane price payable due to the farmers against Fair and Remunerative Price  including arrears relating to previous years.
- Subsequent balance if any, shall be credited into the mill’s account.
Assistance shall be provided to those mills which will fulfil the eligibility conditions as decided by the Government.
Background:
Due to higher sugar production against the estimated consumption during the current sugar season 2017-18, the domestic sugar prices have remained depressed since the commencement of the season. Due to depressed market sentiments and crash in sugar prices, the liquidity position of sugar mills has been adversely affected, leading to accumulation of cane price dues of farmers which have reached to more than Rs.19,000 crore.
In order to stabilize sugar prices at reasonable level and to improve liquidity position of mills thereby enabling them to clear cane price dues of farmers, Government has taken following steps in past three months:
- Increased customs duty on import of sugar from 50% to 100% in the interest of farmers.
- Imposed reverse stock holding limits on producers of sugar for the months of February and March, 2018.
- Government has also fully withdrawn the customs duty on export of sugar to encourage sugar industry to start exploring possibility of export of sugar.
- In view of the inventory levels with the sugar industry and to facilitate achievement of financial liquidity, mill-wise Minimum Indicative Export Quotas  have been fixed for sugar season 2017-18. Export Quotas of 20 Lakh tonnes of all grades of sugar; viz. raw, plantation white as well as refined, have been prorated amongst sugar factories by taking into account their average production of sugar achieved by the sugar mills during last two operational sugar seasons and the current season .
- Further, to facilitate and incentivize export of surplus sugar by sugar mills, Government has allowed Duty Free Import Authorization  Scheme in respect of sugar.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
102.27 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
14,306 new cases in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 98.18%; Highest since March 2020
18,762 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to 3,35,67,367
Active cases account for less than 1% of total cases, currently at 0.49%; Lowest since March 2020
India's Active caseload stands at 1,67,695; lowest in 239 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 2% for last 31 days
Daily positivity rate  less than 2% for last 21 days
60.07 cr Total Tests conducted so far
AYUSH
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates Vaccination Centre for Children and Launches Bal Raksha Mobile App at All Institute of Ayurveda
Union Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Vaccination Centre for children at the All India Institute of Ayurveda  today. He also launched the Bal Raksha mobile app, which is aimed at creating awareness of paediatric preventive healthcare through Ayurveda intervention amongst parents. The app will also collect feedback from parents regarding the impact of the kit on their children's health and immunity.
Shri Sonowal paid his tribute to Late Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who served as H.O.D at Shalya Tantra Department of AIIA, before he lost his life due to Covid in 2020. The Minister also addressed students at the Institute and motivated them by sharing insights on how Ayurveda has now gained global acceptance and what it means for students pursuing Ayurveda studies.
Director, AIIADr. Tanuja Manoj Nesari, along with faculty members welcomed the Shri Sonowal on his arrival. Smt. Jai Devi Kaushal, MLA from Malihabad, UP, was also present at the occasion. She brought with her some saplings for a plantation drive at the Institute. Shri Sonowal, along with Smt. Kaushal and Dr.Nesari, planted the saplings in the garden and took a tour of the Institute.
The All India Institute of Ayurveda, an autonomous organisation under Ministry of Ayush, aims at bringing synergy between the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda and modern tools and technology. The Institute has 12 specialty departments, 30 OPD units with state-of-the-art inter-disciplinary research laboratories and an international collaborative centre for global promotion and research in Ayurveda. Ayurveda is the oldest system of medicine and health science dating back to more than 3,000 years. During Covid times, AIIA played a major role by treating patients at the Covid Healthcare Centre in sync with its mission of ‘care with compassion’.
SK
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Ministry of Defence
Admiral John Michael Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations United States Navy visit to India
Admiral John Michael Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, US Navy, is on an official tour to India from 12 to 14 May 2019. His visit is intended to consolidate bilateral naval relations between India and USA and also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation.
Admiral John M Richardson had discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff today. He also interacted with Defence Secretary, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman COSC and the National Security Council Secretariat.
Indian Navy and US Navy interact regularly at bilateral and multilateral forums and participate in maritime exercises such as MALABAR and RIMPAC. Regular Subject Matter Expert exchange also takes place between both the navies to institutionalise interoperability in various fields. After being accorded Major Defence Partner status by USA in 2016, India – US ties have grown significantly in recent years. The inaugural Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue conducted in September 2018 also facilitated new avenues for defence cooperation between the two countries.
Major issues discussed during the visit included operations and exercises, training interactions, information exchange, capacity building and capability enhancement.
DKS/AC
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Vice President's Secretariat
Expedite completion of NIDM’s Southern Campus training centre in AP: Vice President tells Minister of State for Home Affairs
VP calls for enhancement of capacity building in Disaster Management
Ministers of State - Rattan Lal Kataria & Deboshree Choudhary also call on Vice President
The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai called on the Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, here today.
During the interaction, the Vice President advised Shri Rai to expedite the completion of the Southern Campus building of the National Institute of Disaster Management at Kondapavuluru village in Krishna District, which is coming up on a 10-acre site. The foundation stone for the building was laid by the Vice President on May 22, 2018 in the presence of the then Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju.
An interim setup of NIDM southern campus is currently operating in the campus of Andhra Pradesh Human Resource Development Institute at Bapatla.
In view of the vulnerability of the coastal districts to frequent cyclones and natural calamities like floods, the Vice President advised the Minister to enhance capacity building, organize training programs in disaster preparedness and management.
The southern campus aims at ground level issues, local planning, last mile connectivity and mainstreaming disaster management into Sustainable Development Goals through its training and capacity building.
The geography of South India plays a vital role in designing the institute’s programs with special emphasis on disasters specific to Southern states.
The Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria and the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Sushri Deboshree Choudhary also called on the Vice President and informed him about their respective departmental programs and activities undertaken by their Ministries.